Looking for a Nursing Job?

Frequently, nurses tell me that they are having trouble finding a job and think it is because either their previous job is talking negatively “black ball” about them or there is a Board matter in their past.  I stumbled across this article that I want to share it with you.  You can find it at: http://scrubsmag.com/confessions-from-hospital-hr-heres-why-we-didnt-hire-you/view-all/ and it is a conversation with a hospital human resource person and a nurse recruiter who make some excellent points to consider when looking for a job.

1. Nurses don’t get jobs if they speak negatively about their previous/current position or their supervisor. If you are interviewing for a job, be positive!  No one will want to hire you if you are complaining about your previous or current employer because; they may wonder what are you going to say about them as your next employer.
2. Be sure to keep track of your credentials. Make sure that you provide whatever documentation from continuing education that the job interviewer may ask for.
3. I had always thought that it was important to have your resume professionally prepared. It now seems that recruiters are more interested in how you interact face-to-face.  While a plain resume simply stating the positions that you’ve held works fine. It now seems that recruiters are more interested in how you interact face-to-face.
4. Dress for success! Although some recruiters are okay with scrubs, I would recommend dressing for that “success.”
5. You are how you present. Hospice facilities and health systems are looking for nurses who have good communication, respond appropriately to questions and are motivated.  They look at your personality to get an idea of what your bedside manner may be like and your customer service to patients.
6. A criminal matter may figure in why some recruiters do not hire. Some facilities or health systems, there is a general rule that if an applicant has had a conviction in the past, they are not eligible for hiring.
7. Another reason why a nurse may not get hired is because they may not be a cultural fit, or they are looking for a stable work history, motivation and whether the applicant’s long-term goals are in line with the position offered.
8. If you are a new graduate, you likely will have competition with the more experienced applicants. Hospitals claim that it takes $40,000 to train a new grad in a hospital.  So, set yourself apart when you do your clinical rotations, make a great impression on the managers and your preceptors, especially if you want to be hired at that facility.

A couple of additional tips that I would recommend:

1. These days, everything seems to be done online. There is nothing wrong with good old-fashioned networking.  Connect with decision-makers on LinkedIn.  Ask your friends whom they know and talk to those job prospects directly.
2. Attend nursing events and continuing education to meet other decision-makers.

I’m reminded of my cousin who wanted a job at Starbucks and was determined to get that position.  So, he went to Starbucks more than a dozen times to check in with the manager and tell him of his interest in a position there.  He ultimately was hired because they felt that if he had this much desire and drive to work in their shop, he would be a great employee.

And, they were right!

Don’t feel like you’re bugging the manager or the human resources person.  It just shows that you are determined and very interested in the position.  If you follow through with continued contacts, they will see that you are a person who will follow through with your patient care and are motivated.

Good luck with your endeavors.

What successful techniques have you used to find a position?  I’d like to hear your comments below.